Illuminated head covering



June 2, 1953 PRUP|s 2,640,980 I ILLUMINATED HEAD COVERING Filed Dec. 11, 1950 NATHAN PRUPIS 3nventor (Ittomeg Patented June 2, 1953 ILLUMINATED HEAD COVERING Nathan Prupis, Seattle, Wash., assignor of one-= half to Ralph G. Grossman, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 11, 1950, Serial No. 200,240

2 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of signaling devices; and, more particularly, to an illuminated head covering. Essentially, my illuminated hat ha the following features: a base plate mounted on the crown of a hat and covered by a colored translucent dome; a light bulb centered on the base plate and positioned with its filament above the upper edge of the base; a blinker connected to said light bulb; and a battery to be carried in the users pocket and connected to th blinker and light bulb by a cord.

This illuminated hat is designed especially for the use of hunters and sportsmen. With the high death toll every year it is evident that the common use of brightly colored hat or garments is alone not sufiicient to protect the hunter from the carelessness of his fellow hunters. Of course these garments are not very apparent in poor light. In order to insure that the hunter is fully identified as a man and not the quarry it is considered necessary not only that the hunter have an illuminated hat, the electric bulb of which is visible from widely divergent angles, but also that attention should be further attracted by the intermittency of the light.

Such an illuminated hat will not only be useful for hunters but also for construction workers and the like who often suffer accidents because their presence is not known or readily ascertained by others. A further application of my illuminated hat is for military personnel, such as the plane directors on an aircraft carrier, who now use more cumbersome means of identification which this hat could replace or supplement. Similarly aircraft squadron commanders can employ my invention for identification as well as directing means.

The objects of my invention include: to provide an improved illuminated head covering for safety and identification purposes; to mount a light bulb on a hat in a manner in which it will be visible from widely divergent angles; to provide blinker means for an illuminated hat in order to direct attention to the same; and to provide an economical and eificient illuminated hat.

The method by which these and other objects are accomplished and the features of my invention will best be understood from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of my illuminated head covering as worn by a user;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, on enlarged scale and partly in vertical cross-section, of the hat shown in Figure l Figure 3 is a perspective view of the translucent dome;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits; and

Figure 5 is a side view of the illumination device as mounted'on the helmet of aircraft personnel.

In use in hunting it is considered best to mount the illuminating device on the usual red felt hat H, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Base plate [0 is mounted on crown of the hat and secured thereto as by rivets l2. Base I0 is circular and has an upwardly extending rim I4. Covering base In is a translucent dome I6 which laps rim M on the outside thereof.

For use in hunting it is preferred that dome I5 be colored red as usually this makes the best contrast with the green foliage and also transmits a great amount of light in comparison with other colored materials such as green and blue or white.

Rim H has a plurality of outstanding lugs 20 and dome It has a plurality of bayonet slot 22 in which lugs 20 are positioned in securing dome Hi to base plate l0.

Socket 30 is mounted on base plate I!) in a central position and electric bulb 32 is positioned in socket 30. An important feature of my invention is the positioning of the electric bulb in relation to the uppermost extension of rim M of base plate I 0. The filament is positioned a sufficient distance above rim l4 that rays emanating from the filament will be visible in an area included in a portion of a sphere, centered-at the filament, greater than a hemisphere. Referring to Figure 2, rays from the filament in that vertical plane are unobstructed for an arc of approximately 210 degrees. The importance of this feature for the hunter will be apparent as he may be on a mountainside or on a hill and other hunters may be at a lower level. This is also important for many other types of users.

A battery 40 is provided of a size suitable to be carried in a pocket. Cord 42 leads from the battery under the hat brim and has one lead 44 connecting with socket 30 and another lead 46 connecting with blinker 48. Blinker 48 is connected to socket 30 by line 50. This circuit is shown in a schematic view in Figure 4. Blinker 48 is supported by clips, as 52.

The blinker circuit is quite important to my invention as it is believed that, even with the provision for a wide area of illumination by bulb 32, a steady light frequently would not catch the attention of others and a flashing light is necessary in order to effectively perform the safety function. The eye will more readily notice a flashing light just as it will more readily notice a moving object. The ability of the eye to detect a flashing light or a moving object has been scientifically determined and there are many applications of this characteristic, especially in animated advertising signs and displays.

In Figure 5 is shown my device incorporated in the helmet E0 of an. airman, the helmet having telephone connection 62 which is also shown. My illuminating device is thought to be useful for such personnel to supplement or replace other signaling devices used to direct attention of other airmen. Example of such use would used by plane directors on aircraft carriers and by squadron leaders to signal turns and the like.

In summary, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed description of my inventionthat. its use fulness will be great in the case of the hunter to identify him and protect him from being shot by another; in the case of a lost hunter or hiker or an airman down onland. or sea, to clearly and effectively mark his location for the searcher; and in the case of military or civilianpersonnel working under hazardous conditions, to sharply pinpoint their exact location for other adjacent workmen operating cranes, dangerousmachinery, or the like.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, various changes indetails therein will occur to those skilled in the art. and I do notv wish. to be understood as limiting myself to. the exact structure shown but wish to claim those modifications within the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrically illuminated head covering, the improvement, comprising: a circular base plate secured to the crown of said head covering having an upwardly extending rim; a translucent dome covering said base plate and lapping said upwardly extending rim on the outside thereof; between said rim and said dome, cooperating bayonet slot and pin means adapted to coact to secure said dome on said base plate; an electric light bulb centered on said base plate and positioned. with its filament above. the upper edge of said rim so. as to be visible in an area defined by a portion of a sphere, centered at said filament, greater than a hemisphere; a blinker positioned on said base; a source of electrical current to be carried by the user; and electro-conductive means for connecting said source, said blinker and the light bulb in an. operative circuit.

2. In an electrically illuminated head covering, the improvement, comprising: a base plate mounted at the crown of said head covering; a translucent dome fully covering said base plate; an electric light bulb mounted on said base plate and positioned with its filament above said base so as to be visible in an area defined by a portion of a sphere, centered at said filament, greater than a hemisphere; a source of electrical current to be carried by the user; a blinlrer, and corn nector means for connecting said source, light bulb and blinker in the same circuit.

NATHAN PRUPIS.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

